Cons:

Back in early 1994, I was one of the many Americans who finally learned how to appreciate soccer, mainly due to the fact that the World Cup Tournament was taking place on our shores for the first time in its history. For weeks I followed the results, watched the games, and was introduced to some of the game's colorful characters. When all was said and done, I was eager to put some of the knowledge I had gained to use, so I ran out and bought FIFA International Soccer for the Sega Genesis, the first soccer game developed by Electronic Arts. While the FIFA series would dominate the market for most of the decade, recent years have seen them battling numerous challengers to stay on top.

Most diehard soccer fans will agree that Konami's excellent Winning Eleven series beats FIFA in many areas, yet EA's series still continues to be the top seller, thanks largely to the deep pockets of its marketing department, as well as the name brand recognition that comes with being the top dog. However, everyone at the world's largest publisher knows that the FIFA name will only go so far, and gamers are going to start jumping ship if there aren't some major changes made to the gameplay, as well as to the career mode.

Last year, FIFA Soccer 2004 gave gamers the ability to control the players without the ball, using the "Off the Ball Control." While it was supposed to increase scoring chances and make setting up plays easier, it didn't always work as intended, and few things matched the frustration one felt when an opponent swiped the ball from your man while you were controlling someone else across the field. Although OTB Control is back in FIFA Soccer 2005 it hasn't been improved very much, but soccer fans won't mind when they get a chance to use some of the game's new features in action.

The biggest addition to the game is the "First Touch" system, which allows a player, among other things, the ability to make a move on a defender as you're receiving a pass, simply by flicking the right analog stick in the direction you'd like to go. It's a really nice addition, since you're able to react to the positioning of the defensive player and get a chance to create a little room to break down the field. You can also quickly pass to another player as soon as you get the ball, and a series of fast passes is a great way to exploit any defensive lapses and create scoring chances.

On the run, the right analog stick can be used to make your player perform special dribbling moves, either by flicking in a direction or moving it in a half- or quarter-circle motion, similar to the fireball move found in Street Fighter. Unlike previous games in the series, FIFA Soccer 2005 features a new ball physics system, so the ball finally has its own physical properties. The biggest change comes when dribbling, as it doesn't feel like the ball is tied to your player's foot anymore, which allows you to improvise a bit more when squaring up against a defender. It's definitely nice to have more options, but in many cases, you're better off simply passing to an open teammate, thanks to the game's improved A.I.